Rugby Football Union in overseas warning to elite England players

The Rugby Football Union has announced its ‘absolute intention’ not to pick overseas-based players for England following the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

French fields: Tom Palmer is at Stade (Getty)

England currently have three members of their senior elite squad – Jonny Wilkinson , James Haskell and Tom Palmer [the latter playing in all four autumn Tests] – plying their trade in the French Top 14 championship.

But RFU chief executive John Steele has warned any players based outside of England following the next World Cup would only be selected for national duty under ‘exceptional circumstances’.

The statement of intent is designed to give England the best chance of winning the World Cup on home soil in 2015.

The RFU has stressed England stars remain free to sign for French clubs after the next World Cup if they wish.

But Steele has written to players and their agents to provide advance notice of the risks they will be taking by leaving.

He said: ‘As things stand we have a number of players in various squads and clubs outside England, principally in France, and you may be considering that as your next career move.

‘If that is the case then it is our view that we are best served by having our England Elite Player Squad [EPS] and our England Qualified Players [EQPs] all playing in England at English clubs.

‘We feel that enables our whole elite department, including team management and coaches, as well as our technical, medical and sports science teams, to work more closely with EPS players to ensure that you are supported in the right way.

‘We further believe this is easier to achieve working with the Premiership and Championship clubs. So I would like to confirm that it is our strong intent, from the end of Rugby World Cup 2011 through the RWC 2015 cycle, to select our Elite Player Squads at all levels entirely from players playing at English clubs where at all possible.

‘I would stress that this is not a change to our selection policy itself, players remain free to play outside England should they so wish, but you need to understand that it is our absolute intention that we only select from overseas clubs in exceptional circumstances.

‘It is for you and your agent to decide if you are willing to take that risk.’